Why speak any more of your affairs? This is not really a question but a way of telling Mephibosheth that he had no need to speak further about the matter. The Hebrew word translated any more is the same as rendered “further” in the previous verse. As in that case, languages having habitual verb forms may translate this idea as a part of the verb itself. One possible model is “Let’s not keep on talking about these problems of yours.”

The verb translated I have decided is the word often translated “I have said.” Compare New American Bible, “I say, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the property.’ ” In this context it means something like “I have ordered” or “I have decided.” In order to avoid the embedded quotation, some translators may wish to do something similar to the model provided by Revised English Bible, “My decision is that you and Ziba are to share the estate.”

Divide the land: that is, the land that once belonged to Saul and had been given to Ziba in 16.4. The Hebrew noun translated land refers to “fields” or “plots of land.” The word “property” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) is probably too general. A more precise translation is the land (Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version) or “the lands of Saul” (Bible en français courant). The division of the land between the two adversaries is seen by some commentators as an indication that David did not know whom to believe and that he was uncertain what to do. But others feel that it was simply an attempt to bring about reconciliation within his kingdom. Either way the translation will not be affected.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .